December 25, 2018
ANSWERING THE IMPOSSIBLE CHRISTMAS QUESTION
“How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” the young Mary asked when the angel Gabriel told her of Christ’s birth. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Gabriel replied, having explained the the miracle of Christ’s divine conception.
God must love to prove it otherwise when we call something impossible. In Zechariah’s time, the Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem and were attempting to rebuild the Temple. But the small remnant was overwhelmed with the large size of the project. They felt inadequate in every way, not enough in number nor in resources. But the Lord of Hosts had a question for them to consider: “Is it impossible for Me?”
When Gabriel answered Mary’s “Christmas question,” she was satisfied, saying, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
What seems impossible in your life today? Is it impossible for God?
December 22, 2018
ADVENT MEANS COMING
Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies about the “coming” of the LORD. Here, Israel was called to “shout and rejoice” in anticipation of His coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Today, the Spirit of Christ continues to “dwell” in this world through His Body, which is the Church. Yet, we are to continue to “shout and rejoice” because Christ has come and is coming again to truly “live among” us.
The word “advent” means the arrival or coming of someone or something notable. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.
December 25, 2017
Zechariah’s prophecy told of a time when great numbers of people from the the Gentile nations would seek the One who is known by this description: “God is with you.”
Who is this One? It is Christ Jesus. As Isaiah prophesied (Isa. 7:14) and Matthew confirmed (Matt. 1:23), He is Immanuel, which in Hebrew means, “God with us.”
Today, we see that Zechariah’s prophecy is fulfilled. People from nearly every language and tribe have embraced the “Jewish man,” Jesus, who is Immanuel, “God with us.” Today, we celebrate His coming and look forward to His soon return! Merry Christmas!
December 22, 2017
Zechariah prophesied that a “stone” would be “laid” by God to “remove iniquity” in “one day.” Who is this “Stone?” Isn’t he the “Precious Cornerstone” of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa. 28:16)? Isn’t he the “stone that the builders rejected (Psa. 118:22, 1 Pet. 2:6-8)? Isn’t he the Lamb with “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God” (Rev. 5:6)? And what was “engraved” upon that Stone? Wasn’t it the piercing of His hands and feet and side that “removed the iniquity” of us all? Didn’t the Lord say, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16)? Yes, this Stone is certainly the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:20)!
Join me in looking up each of the Scripture references listed above, and you will experience the joy and profound wonder of our Precious Cornerstone, Jesus Christ!
December 29, 2016
Two streams of messianic prophecy are found in Zechariah. One, points to Christ’s first coming as humble Savior, and the other, to His second coming as righteous Judge. This passage belongs to the second stream, as the phrase “on that day” connects it to the time period known as the “Day of the Lord,” when God’s judgment will fall on planet earth. Christ’s “feet” have stood on the Mount of Olives many times. During Passion Week alone, the Bible recorded three significant times that Jesus spent on the Mount: The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24), the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:29-30), and the Garden Prayer and Betrayal (Mark 14:32-52). On the day of Christ’s ascension, the disciples were with Him on the Mount when He was lifted up into the clouds (Acts 1:6-12). They heard the angel say, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way.” Zechariah prophesied of that day of which the angel spoke, a day when Christ will return to stand on the Mount of Olives and split the mount in two.
December 21, 2016
The prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. Both of them wrote to encourage the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from their 70 years of Babylonian exile. Zechariah began to prophesy during the reign of Darius, king of Persia (Zech. 1:1), under whose governance the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild Jerusalem. He instructed them not only to return to Jerusalem, but to return to the Lord! This is a word to those who have gone astray. Return! Repent of your sins and return to the Lord of Hosts and He will surely return to you.
December 29, 2015
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament readings today are about the triumph of the true Lord and King. Since the garden, humanity has been in rebellion against God, choosing to follow its own way, rather than the Lord’s. Yet, both Zechariah and John saw a “Day” coming when the Lord would reign “over all the earth” and every human tongue would worship His name alone. We too, are to be heralds of His soon arrival, announcing that everyone should get ready for the coming King.
December 24, 2015
Who is this person that would fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy written in 520 BC? Here are some of the qualifications on his resume:
1) Will build the temple
2) Will receive the glory that belongs to God
3) Will be the king
4) Will be the high priest
5) Will unite the offices of king and priest
Clue: He was born in a Bethlehem stable around 520 years after this prophecy… (More clues: His temple is still being built and He is both the Cornerstone and the Capstone. He receives God’s glory because He is the Word made flesh. The offices of prophet, priest and king have always foreshadowed His fulfillment.) Who is He?
December 23, 2015
Zerubbabel, whose name meant, “seed of Babylon,” was one of the Jews born in Babylon during their 70 years of captivity. Born a prince in the Davidic line, he was appointed governor over Jerusalem by the Persian king, Cyrus, and led the returning exiles to start rebuilding the Temple. Unfortunately, due to conflict with the locals and lack of both physical and financial support, the work had come to a halt after laying the foundation. The unfinished work sat atop the temple mount for over a decade, a constant and discouraging reminder to Zerubbabel, who had lost heart that it would ever be completed. It was during this time of despair that the prophet Zechariah encouraged him to take up the “plumb line” and go back to work because he would surely be able to finish it. And so, the prophecy that the temple that was started by Zerubbabel would be finished by him was fulfilled. Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple, the same one that King Herod later “supersized,” and the same one that Jesus, the true King, taught in during the His earthly ministry. Yet, this prophecy also has a spiritual fulfillment that is still pending. For Zerubbabel, the Davidic prince, is a christological type pointing to Christ’s work of salvation. The book of Hebrews explains saying that Jesus is both “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb.12:2). Jesus has laid the foundation and He will set the “capstone.”
December 22, 2015
Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies. Here, Israel was called to “sing and rejoice” in anticipation of Christ’s coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled on Christmas day with the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Today, the Spirit of Christ continues to “dwell” in this world through His Church. Yet, we are to continue to “sing and rejoice” because Christ has come and is coming again to truly “dwell” with us as both Priest and King. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.